68 SOIL THE MOST SUITABLE. 



ponent parts may differ widely in their relative 

 proportions ; and again, as the slope and undulation 

 of hills receive more or less inclination, so may the 

 earth differ in quality and compactness, and thus 

 constitute soils of various degrees of fertility ; and 

 hence it may be, that the specimens alluded to 

 vary so much in their proportions of sand. It is 

 obvious that the rich and soluble parts of the soil 

 will be the first precipitated and carried forward 

 to the level parts and plains. In the progress of 

 disintegration the broken and detached masses of 

 rock, deprived of their earthy support, are hurled 

 headlong down the mountain to its base, where 

 they collect in large masses, as may be seen every 

 where along the sea- shore at Macao ; while the 

 stones and coarse gravelly parts will be left behind, 

 to wait later effects of disintegration and pre- 

 cipitation by rain, wind, and other atmospheric 

 influences. 



Thus it is not surprising, when we are informed 

 of the fact, that the tea tree should be found " to 

 grow with more luxuriance at the base " of granitic 

 hills, and " with more vigour during the heats of 

 summer than on the summits," or that " the soil 

 here should be found more compact and rich." 



Mr. Gordon also observes of the Ankoy districts 

 near Amoy, that the plantations he saw were 

 generally at the bottom of hills, where there was 

 a good deal of shelter on two sides, and the slopes 

 comparatively easy. He reckoned the highest 



